Two in police grip for attacking UPP flag bearer

The Adabraka District Police Command in Accra has arrested two persons who attacked the flag bearer of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Akwasi Addai, when he went to the office of the Electoral Commission (EC) to pick his presidential forms.

The two, Gabriel Asamoah Boakye and Kennedy Saku, were said to have constricted the neck of Mr Addai, popularly known as Odike, at the office of the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Mr Samuel Tetteh.

Odike had gone to the EC premises to pick nomination forms last Tuesday to contest this year’s general election, but the two men, claiming to have been sent by the leadership of the party, attacked him in a bid to stop him from having access to the forms.

It took the intervention of two policemen who had escorted the flag bearer of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Ekua Donkor, to prevent Boakye and Saku from beating up Odike.

The two were later handed over to the Adabraka District Police Command.

The Adabraka Distrcit Police Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police Kwesi Ofori told the Daily Graphic that the two had been charged with assault and would be sent to court.

Needless confusion

Narrating the event that led to the arrest of Boakye and Saku, Mr Ofori said they went to the office of the EC to create chaos and confusion.

“They were not supposed to have engaged in any act of violence on the premises of the EC, let alone the office of the Director of Electoral Services,” he said.

He said the police were informed about the issue immediately it happened and they rushed to the premises to arrest them.

As soon as they were arrested, Mr Ofori said the two men claimed they were sent by the leadership of UPP but were unable to mention the name of the person who sent them.

He served notice that the police would not deal leniently with any person or group who would attempt to indulge in violence in the build-up to election 2016.